Revisiting Avengers Forever

by Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern (Writers), Carlos Pacheco, Jesus Merino (Artists), Steve Oliff, Olyoptics.com, Graphic Color Works (Colorists)

There are several stories that are hold with high regard in the industry. Marvels, Kingdom Come, Watchmen and many others are such stories that people are still talking about to this very day, leaving an impact that can be debated for hours amongst fans. Most of them are cherished for their unique stories or with their presentation, which is the stuff that comic fans are living for. Still, amongst all of those critical darlings, there are some stories that represent either a specific character or concept at its best, like Batman: Year One or Daredevil: Born Again, which can be used as the summary and explanation of why this specific character is great.

Avengers Forever is sometimes referred to as one of the very pinnacle of the Avengers franchise, namely the pre-Bendis era of the title. Written by Kurt Busiek of Marvels and Astro City fame, it tries to hold the very essence of what makes the Avengers what they are while telling a story of cataclysmic proportions. Still, with the present era of Avengers being definitely different than the previous one written by such like Roy Thomas or Kurt Busiek himself. With such a big disparity between styles, can this book actually provide entertainment with a more modern outlook on it?

Uncanny Avengers #9 – Review

By: Rick Remender (Writer) Daniel Acuña (Artist/Colorist)

The Story: The Apocalypse twin tries to plan for what they want to make happen to the world as the Avengers deals with dissension in their ranks.

The Review: Rick Remender is not a man that is afraid to go big. As he tried and succeeded in creating a big stories with lasting effect with his memorable run on Uncanny X-Force, he tries to go even bigger with this run as he incorporate many elements from the Marvel universe, including some from his own tenure on his previous title. However, does he succeed in this attempt? Is he able to give us something bigger?

In ways, the short time he had on this title seems to indicate that he might just be able to do that, as he almost effortlessly incorporates his own ideas into the larger Marvel universe without making them too weird or even out of place amongst the many strange things that are included in this superhero universe. It is, after all, a book that tries to connect the mutant world of the X-Men with the rest of the Marvel imprint. Now, I am no expert on the X-Men, but from what I read, I had always perceived the mutants characters to be almost in a little universe of their own, as they had their own threats, their own saviors, their own events and their own spinoffs, with most of them completely unrelated to what was happening in the rest of the universe they were supposed to be sharing. It seemed to me that those characters were almost better off being literally given their own universe after all, yet Remender makes for a really good case in the more open connection he gives here.

Avengers #6 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Klaus Janson & Tom Palmer (inks), Dean White (colors), and Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: The Avengers try to reach an agreement with Ultron to stop Kang’s breaking the timestream.

What’s Good: This issue really goes out of its way to establish the Avengers as the central title for the Marvel Universe through its both hinting at, and setting up, major stories to come.  Bendis is able to do this thanks to the story’s conveniently being located in the future.  There’s a really nice reference to the outcome of the “Trial of Captain America” storyline over in Captain America, while the final events of the issue seem to hint at a major Ultron-related storyline that might possibly lead to an event spreading to other titles.  All told, it’s stuff like this that makes the Avengers feel really important as a title.

Bendis does a good job with the wacky time traveling dynamics.  For the first time, I feel as though things not only made perfect sense, but also were actually rather clever.  Bendis puts everything where they ought to be and, unlike previous issues, the timestream stuff is never dubious.  In fact, it actually allows for Bendis to write a really, really nice ending, allowing for this story-arc to end exactly as it began, as the murder of Immortus is explained and cast in a wholly different light given what we now know.  It’s really quite good, so much so that I was taken by surprise by how eloquent and well constructed it was.

The Avengers’ attempting to stop the war from ever happening is also well done; their dialogue with Ultron is tense but logical.  Bendis writes a really good back and forth, doing solid work in making Ultron’s reasoning and thought processes appear calculating and ruthless.  Honestly, Bendis just writes a good Ultron.

Romita’s artwork continues to sharpen and improve.  This may be his most polished issue yet, as it really cuts back on the “scratchiness” that at times gets out of control in Romita’s work and ends up making things look sloppy.  The detail work is solid and characters look Romita-trademarked cartoony, but never deformed.  The action and pyrotechnics are enjoyable and Romita also joins a very, very nice Ultron.

Fantastic Four #582 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Neil Edwards (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Paul Mounts (colors), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: The Great Hunt concludes and the older Val and Franklin try to save/create reality and the future.

What’s Good: One of the things that I love about comics, or serial publications in general, is that now and then, you’ll be reading an issue and the thought will flash through your head, clear as day, as much a thought as a feeling.  It usually sounds something like this: “goddamn, I love this book.”

That’s pretty much how I felt about Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four last month, and that’s how I feel this month as well.  Though this month’s issue isn’t quite as strong as last month’s, it’s still a triumph of Hickman’s imagination.

The Great Hunt is awesome concept and the fight between Nathaniels is really well-done, as is the montage showing evil Nathaniel’s elimination of the other Nathaniels.  Hickman’s narration of this sequence is really strong, and in one page, it manages to build up this evil Nathaniel into something truly horrifying.

The fight itself is great if only because it shows glimmers of what Reed, Doom, and Ben will become.  Reed’s humanity is highlighted, while young Doom is an absolute joy under Hickman’s hand.  The character is so ridiculously bombastic and arrogant that it’s impossible not to love the guy.  Hickman has the character’s voice completely down to a science, and I cannot wait to see him write the “real” Victor von Doom.

This issue is interestingly divided into two distinct halves, with the other being devoted to the trials of the future, older Val and Franklin.  Though a more complex read, it’s enjoyable on a different level, mostly due to the strong characterization of Franklin and Val.  Franklin appears at times to be truly god-like, while his bond with Val is really touching.  This leads to a truly magnificent ending for the issue, one that touches upon this sibling bond, making clear their love for each other without beating us over the head or coming across saccharine.  It’s a really affecting moment of sacrifice that also once again focuses on Hickman’s idea behind Fantastic Four, that being an ethos that rejects limitations and impossibilities.

Fantastic Four #581 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Neil Edwards (pencils), Paul Neary (inks), Paul Mounts (colors), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: Young sophomores Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, and Victor von Doom look to help Nathaniel Richards in a battle with…. himself?

What’s Good: This is without a doubt the best issue of Hickman’s Fantastic Four since his first arc on the series.  I think a good part of it is because he’s ditched the one-shot formula he’s been using for the past few months and is thus able to stretch his legs for a grander, and more cohesive, story.  The result is real Fantastic Four goodness, a good mixture of high-concept sci-fi wackiness and strong chemistry between characters.

Nathaniel Richards is also put to good use by Hickman in a plot that is a total winner on concept alone.  Essentially, as we saw in Hickman’s other Marvel series, SHIELD (a SHIELD reference in FF? Yes!), Nathaniel Richards touched the power source of that… errr… exploding dude.  This resulted in all the Nathaniel Richardses of every reality being pulled into the main Marvel U, and because Immortus will only tolerate one Nathaniel Richards in one reality, all the Nathaniels are locked in a deadly battle royale to be that final Nathaniel.  It’s almost like a mixture of Fantastic Four and Highlander and it’s the sort of mind-boggling insanity that distinguishes Hickman’s work.

While this plot itself is a great deal of fun, Hickman’s character work is strong as well, as he does really well with the voices of undergraduates Reed, Ben, and Victor.  All the characters feel really true to themselves; Victor is as arrogant and elitist as ever, while the friendship between opposites shared by Reed and Ben is quietly heartwarming to see in action.  A debate in a moral philosophy class between Victor and Reed is also a great read, doing a good job of capturing the fundamental conflict between the two characters.  Really, the issue is full of moments like this; little winks and prescient nods to what the characters will later become, unbeknownst to them.

Avengers #3 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Dean White (colors), and Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: The Avengers battle Apocalypse and his horsemen as the broken timestream causes mayhem.

What’s Good: After complaining about the mediocrity of this title for the last two months, I admit that I was fully prepared to voice some variation of the same concerns this month.  I’m happily able to report that, much to my surprise, that’s far from the case.

I think a big part of this is due to the book’s no longer being so self-conscious about headlining the Heroic Age or moving past Dark Reign.  Status quo, rosters, and pondering the past are all shuffled to the side.  We’re also no longer mired in the ambiguities of Bendis’ ideas relating to time travel or the “broken” timestream.  In the place of all this muck is a barrel-full of fun, as this issue smashes you in the face with a fist-full of Marvel insanity.

And really, this insanity seems key to the book’s identity.  The brawl with Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen is awesome and a really cool throwback and reminder of the late 80s and early 90s.  Mix this together with Apocalypse’s cheesy, old-school villain dialogue and the whole conflict is an absolute blast.  It makes the Avengers completely unlike anything else offered by the Avengers-line of titles.  This issue is such a concentrated dose of camp and nostalgia that it ends up being truly unique.

Along with this newly-found identity are the beginnings of the team dynamic and synergy that were sorely lacking in the first two issues.  Spider-Man and Iron Man of all people have something of a bonding experience that feels almost inexplicably resonant, perhaps because this title has thus far been starved of this sort of meaningful interplay between team members.  Meanwhile, Spider-Woman and Spider-Man rekindle their spark and Noh-Varr and his ongoing attempts at humanity add another source of comedy.  Surprisingly integral as well is Maria Hill, who acts as the glue that holds the team together and provides narrative direction.  Her constant snark added a great deal of colour to the issue and catered well to the voice Bendis does so well.

Avengers #2 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Dean White (colors), and Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: The Avengers attempt to build a time machine with disastrous result and Wonder Man decides that it’s time for action.

What’s Good: This issue is a definite improvement.  Unlike last month’s unfortunate misstep, this issue has a solid structure and feels far more cohesive and organic in its plot developments and narrative progression as many of the growing pains begin to ease out.

I think a lot of this greater cohesion comes from this issue’s really spelling out the niche for this particular Avengers title.  Free from Dark Reign aftermath and such, the book is allowed to do what it was intended to do, which is delve into the high level, almost cosmic styled adventures reminiscent of classic Avengers comics.  Things are quickly gaining that wacky feel that lets you know that you’re getting increasingly distanced from street level, which is a refreshing shift from Marvel’s direction over the past while.  There’s a greater sense of camp and escapism and the book is finding its identity.

I found myself intrigued most of all by Wonder Man’s sudden, violent involvement.  It’s a promising development and I appreciated the Avengers’ fear of Simon becoming another Sentry or Scarlet Witch type debacle.  Wonder Man himself may serve as an opportunity for the Avengers to prove Simon himself wrong; that the Avengers can avoid repeating the mistakes of old, preventing rather than causing destruction.

Romita also shows improvement.  His art feels a lot more fun and comfortable with itself and while Maria Hill still looks weird as hell, there are, overall, far fewer oddities.